Celtic signing this prodigious 19-year-old poacher on loan would be a masterstroke in the summer

Celtic Opinion: Why Moise Kean would be a good signing for the Hoops

Juventus starlet Moise Kean has been regarded as one of Italy’s most promising footballing prospects ever since his days at the youth level. Having made his senior bow for Juventus in the Serie A back in the 2016-17 season, the 19-year-old spent time on loan at Chievo Verona last term.

The Italian prodigy has struggled for regular minutes in the ongoing campaign. However, he proved once again what a remarkable talent he is, starring with a brace in Juventus’ latest 4-1 triumph over Udinese in the Serie A.

Along with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Moise Kean is one of the most highly-rated teenagers in Europe at the moment. While Sancho has established himself as a superstar at Dortmund and Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed considerable first-team involvement at Chelsea, Kean’s career is yet to take off.

He has shown flashes of his remarkable talent but stiff competition for places in the ranks at Turin has forced him to cut a frustrated figure on the bench more often than not. The Italian has played only 83 minutes of football in the Serie A this term, which is simply a mockery of his talent.

Born in Italy to parents of Ivorian descent, Kean has represented Italy at all youth levels and has also been capped once at the senior international level. He is still in the developmental phase of his career and lack of regular minutes is only going to stall his progress.

A loan move elsewhere in the summer would help the 19-year-old continue his development and agent Mino Raiola will also be keen for his player to get more play time next season.

To put things into perspective, Celtic should try to sign the highly-rated Juventus ace on loan next season. Keane needs more exposure to mature as player and the prospect of playing regular first-team football in a comparatively easier league, as well as the promise of European football, should appeal to the player.

The Hoops currently sit atop the Scottish Premiership standings, 8 points clear of archrivals Rangers and are well on course to securing the domestic title even after the departure of manager Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City.

The January transfer window saw the arrival of Timothy Weah and Oliver Burke on loan from PSG and West Brom respectively but neither of the players is expected to stay at Parkhead beyond the end of the season. Vakoun Issouf Bayo is not in the frame either, which would leave Neil Lennon with Odsonne Edouard as the lone option up front.

Celtic have always been a dominant force in Scotland but the Hoops need to focus more on achieving success in European competitions, having been knocked out by Valencia in the Round of 32 of the Europa League this season. They need to sign quality players to make an impact at the big stage and Moise Kean certainly fits the bill.

Standing at 6ft. with a towering frame, Kean is noted for his blistering pace, jaw-dropping dribbling skills and subtle offensive movement. While his strong physique allows him to excel with his hold-up play in the final third, Kean also has a wonderful technique, which combined with his eye for goal and hardworking nature, make him a remarkable talent.

Known for his aerial prowess and poaching instincts inside the box, Kean has also earned plaudits for his work-rate off the ball, often dropping deep to cut out the opposition’s attacks. Furthermore, the Italian is very dangerous during counter-attacking situations and his finishing is also of the highest quality.

Keane is not yet the finished article by any means but he would still be a welcome addition to Celtic’s squad next summer. A permanent deal might be beyond Celtic’s financial capability but the Hoops should make a move to take him on loan for the upcoming season.

Celtic FC Opinion: Two defenders the Hoops should target this summer?

Neil Lennon has taken the reins of the club on an interim
basis until the end of the campaign. The Hoops are enjoying a ten-point lead at
the top of the table and if Lennon successfully manages to guide the club to
the inevitable, he could certainly get the permanent keys of the club, once
again.

Should Lennon get the job, he must look to build the team
for the future and address some key areas of the squad in the summer transfer
window. One of the important areas is the defence, which has failed to inspire this
season.

Dedryck Boyata, arguably Celtic’s best defender, will certainly leave the club once his contract expires in the summer, while Filip Benkovic will return back to Leicester City at the end of the campaign.

That’ll leave the Hoops with Jozo Simunovic, Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer—none of have been consistent and reliable at the back.

Hence, it’s crucial Celtic makes defensive reinforcements to
compete for the title as well as make a mark in the Champions League. That
said, here we look at the two central defenders the Glasgow giants should
target in the summer.

1. Samir Memisevic (Groningen)

Samir Memisevic is enjoying an excellent season with Groningen, having been a regular fixture at the Dutch club’s backline. He has made 25 appearances in the Eredivisie, scoring three goals.

Strong in the air and powerful in the tackle, the Bosnian is
a no-nonsense defender who’ll bring some much-needed feistiness and leadership
qualities to the Celtic backline.

Memisevic likes to play it out from the back and is extremely
comfortable on the ball, making him a perfect fit for Lennon’s Hoops.

2. Jean-Kevin Duverne (Lens)

Jean-Kevin Duverne earned rave reviews for his performances with Ligue 2 side RC Lens last season. But he ruptured ligament in his left knee in May last year and was out of action for close to nine months.

The Frenchman, 21, made his return on February and has played seven Ligue 2 games thus far. Duverne will take some time before he gets to his best and starts attracting attention from Europe’s elites.

Celtic would go a long way in solving their defensive conundrum by reviving interest in this powerful 22-year-old wall

Celtic Opinion: Hoops should reignite their interest in Scott McKenna

Back in January, a report from Belfast Live claimed that Celtic were set to reignite their interest in Aberdeen centre-back Scott Mckenna. However, a move to Parkhead failed to materialize for him and the youngster continued to impress at his current club.

McKenna has been a regular for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership this season, making 22 appearances and helping his team achieve a wonderful defensive record. Aberdeen has conceded only 34 goals from 30 games, a feat that has only been bettered by four other sides in the division.

A youth product of Aberdeen, McKenna made his senior professional debut for his boyhood club in 2016 and spent time on loan at Ayr United and Alloa Athletic.

He gradually earned a significant role at his present club after his impressive performances on his loan spells and the 22-year-old has gone on to establish himself as a rock at the back for Aberdeen.

The Scottish international has made a total of 68 appearances for Aberdeen across all competitions, scoring on four occasions.

Standing at 6ft. 3 inches with a towering amd well-built frame, Scott Mckenna is a physically dominating centre-half with good aerial ability.

Capable of outmuscling his offensive counterparts with his strength, McKenna is also very quick across the ground which helps him deal with fast and agile attackers as well.

The Scotsman possesses good game-reading ability- often staying on his feet to anticipate the opposition’s moves and cutting out attacks with interceptions, whilst also showing the commitment to throw his body on the line to block goal-bound shots.

Mckenna has also improved his passing significantly and has developed into a ball-playing centre-back, which should interest Celtic all the more.

To put things into perspective, Celtic might do themselves a world of good by reigniting their interest in the towering Aberdeen defensive wall. The fact that he is a home-grown talent should make the move all the more exciting for the Celtic fans.

The Hoops are well on their way to getting their hands on the Scottish Premiership title once again, with Neil Lennon’s side 8 points clear of Rangers at the top.

Former manager Brendan Rodgers signed the likes of Vakoun Issouf Bayo, Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah to bolster his squad in January but Celtic need to sort out a few key issues at the back at the end of the season.

Dedryck Boyata is out of contract while Filip Benkovic is set to return Leicester City in the summer, which would leave a massive void at the heart of Celtic’s defence. Quite clearly, Lennon will need into the transfer window for a new centre-back and McKenna definitely fits the bill.

Celtic beating Scottish rivals to sign this 32-year-old powerhouse would be ideal at shoring up the club’s midfield

Celtic FC Opinion: Why the Rams should snap up Craig Bryson from Derby?

According to a report from the Scottish Sun, Derby County midfielder Craig Bryson has emerged as a target for Scottish Premiership side Hearts when his contract expires in the summer.

The 32-year-old, who has admitted there have been no talks with the club to extend his spell at Pride Park, is also a target for his old club Kilmarnock.

Craig Bryson has been one of the most consistent performers for Derby County since joining from Kilmarnock in 2011. With no offer for contract extension as of yet, the veteran midfielder will be keen to head back to Scotland and finish his career when his contract does expire at Pride Park.

That said, Celtic should beat the likes of Hearts and
Kilmarnock for Bryson’s signature this summer.

Neil Lennon has been appointed as an interim manager until the end of the season and if does well in the auditioning period, the job could be his on a permanent basis.

Whatever is the case, with or without Lennon, the Hoops will need reinforcements in the summer, considering that Rangers will spend once again after potentially missing out on the title.

To keep up with the high standards and also to compete in the Champions League, a couple of quality additions would do well for Celtic.

Craig Bryson could be an inspired signing for Celtic. The 32-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder but is known for his ability to score goals from midfield.

An energetic, tenacious and lively customer, he can pick a pass and at the same time keep things simple in midfield as per the game’s requirement. His energy remains unmatched and the Scotsman’s work-rate coupled with his ability to get into goal-scoring positions make him an asset for any team he plays.

The former Scotland international has been superb for the
Rams ever since moving to the Championship club and will be a solid signing for
Celtic if they can snap him up in the summer.

Verdict

A move to Celtic could also tempt Bryson as he’ll be able to
play for the best team in Scotland as well as a chance in the Champions League.
On a free transfer, the experienced midfielder’s signing is a no-brainer for
the Glasgow giants.